U.S. patent application number 13/055277 was filed with the patent office on 2011-08-04 for assigning a mobile-redeemable personal identification number to a consumer as a mobile reward or following a purchase of a promotional item.
This patent application is currently assigned to IMPACT MOBILE INC.. Invention is credited to Gary David Schwartz.
Application Number | 20110191152 13/055277 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41569947 |
Filed Date | 2011-08-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110191152 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schwartz; Gary David |
August 4, 2011 |
ASSIGNING A MOBILE-REDEEMABLE PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER TO A
CONSUMER AS A MOBILE REWARD OR FOLLOWING A PURCHASE OF A
PROMOTIONAL ITEM
Abstract
An unique personal identification number (PIN) is issued when a
promotional product is purchased. The consumer receives a receipt
with information on how to redeem the PIN with a mobile
communication device and qualify for a reward. An MSP (mobile
service provider) is able to track the consumer's redemption
actions to the consumer's mobile telephone number when the consumer
redeems the PIN. In another example, the consumer is able to redeem
a generic coupon at a point of sale (POS), redeem a PIN by
electronically scanning a mobile phone at the POS, and then use the
PIN to obtain rewards. A method, system and software product for
issuing and redeeming PINs are described.
Inventors: |
Schwartz; Gary David;
(Toronto, CA) |
Assignee: |
IMPACT MOBILE INC.
Toronto
ON
|
Family ID: |
41569947 |
Appl. No.: |
13/055277 |
Filed: |
July 22, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
July 22, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CA2008/001334 |
371 Date: |
April 22, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/14.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0207 20130101;
G06Q 20/387 20130101; G06Q 30/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/14.1 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/00 20060101
G06Q030/00 |
Claims
1. A method of associating a unique mobile-redeemable PIN with a
customer, in which the PIN has not been published on a product or
product packaging, comprising: examining a unique code associated
with the product, following a transaction within the group of
transactions defined by: (i) a sale of the product to the customer,
and (ii) a submission by the customer of a mobile-redeemable
incentive associated with the product; determining whether the
product is eligible for a consumer reward by comparing the unique
code with a database comprising eligible unique codes, wherein each
eligible unique code corresponds to a promotional product; and if
the product is one of the promotional products, verifying that the
product is eligible for the consumer reward, associating the PIN
with information associated with the transaction, and associating
the PIN with a mobile communication device associated with the
customer.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the consumer reward is one or
more of the group of rewards consisting of: a coupon redeemable in
association with a future consumer purchase; one or more points in
a loyalty reward program; and a ballot eligible for selection in a
promotional contest.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile-redeemable PIN is
redeemable by sending a text message, including the
mobile-redeemable PIN, to a predetermined mobile service
provider.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: assigning one or more
batches of unique mobile-redeemable PINs to one or more point of
sale locations in a retail network.
5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: determining which of
the mobile-redeemable PINs assigned to the one or more point of
sale locations in the retail network have been assigned from the
one or more batches of mobile-redeemable PINs to a group of
reward-eligible customers comprising the customer.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising: replenishing the
mobile-redeemable PINs assigned from the one or more batches of
mobile-redeemable PINs to the group of reward-eligible customers
with supplemental mobile-redeemable PINs.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer is notified by a
text message sent to the mobile communication device of the
customer's eligibility for the consumer reward.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the text message comprises an
information statement selected from the group consisting of:
information about a promotional contest, information about a
consumer loyalty program, and information about a promotional
coupon.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique code is examined after
the sale of the product to the customer, the method further
comprising: determining whether the customer has been assigned more
than one mobile-redeemable PIN in a single sale transaction, each
PIN being associated with a promotional product; if the customer
has been assigned more than one mobile-redeemable PIN in the single
sale transaction, assigning a global PIN associated with the more
than one mobile-redeemable PIN, the global PIN being for use in
notifying the customer that the Customer is eligible for more than
one consumer rewards by redeeming the global PIN via a mobile
communication device.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining the
customer's telephone number associated with the mobile
communication device used to redeem the mobile-redeemable PIN, and
storing the customer's telephone number and the corresponding
assigned mobile-redeemable PIN in the database comprising the
eligible unique codes.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique code is examined
after the sale of the product to the customer, the method further
comprising: electronically scanning the product at a point of sale
to identify the unique code assigned to the product, wherein the
unique code is selected from the group consisting of: a
Stock-keeping unit (SKU); a Price Look-Up code (PLU); a Universal
Product Code (UPC); a European Article Number (EAN); a Global Trade
Item Number (GTIN); and an Australian Product Number (APN).
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique code is derived by
examining the mobile-redeemable incentive; and the
mobile-redeemable incentive is selected from the group consisting
of: a mobile sweepstake ballot; one or more mobile loyalty points;
and a mobile coupon.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique code is derived by
examining the mobile communication device associated with the
customer.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile-redeemable PIN
comprises a security code element to inhibit unauthorized
redemption of the mobile-redeemable PIN.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile-redeemable PIN is
redeemable online via a computer-based electronic communication
initiated on behalf of the customer.
16. A system for assigning a unique mobile-redeemable PIN to a
customer following the sale of a product, in which the PIN has not
been published on the product or product packaging, comprising: a
controller programmed to determine whether the product is eligible
for a consumer reward by comparing a unique code assigned to the
product with a database comprising eligible unique codes, each
eligible unique code corresponding to a promotional product; the
controller identifies the customer's telephone number associated
with a mobile communication device upon receipt of a submission on
behalf of the customer, and the controller assigns the
mobile-redeemable PIN associated with the product sale to the
telephone number of the customer, if the product is one of the
promotional products; a memory element for storing the database;
and a communication element, for communicating information
associated with the sale of the promotional product, comprising:
the telephone number of the customer and the mobile redeemable PIN
assigned to the customer.
17. A system for associating a unique mobile-redeemable PIN with a
customer after examining a unique code associated with a product,
following a submission on behalf of the customer of a
mobile-redeemable incentive associated with the product, and the
PIN not having been published on the product or product packaging,
the system comprising: a controller, wherein the controller is
programmed to determine whether the product is eligible for a
consumer reward by comparing the unique code assigned to the
product with a database comprising eligible unique codes, wherein
each eligible unique code corresponds to a promotional product; if
the product is one of the promotional products, the controller
associates the mobile-redeemable PIN with information associated
with the submission of the incentive; a memory element for storing
the database; and a communication element, for communicating
information associated with: the mobile-redeemable PIN, the
submission of the incentive, and a mobile communication device
associated with the customer.
18. In the system claimed in claim 16, the controller is configured
to designate one or more batches of unique mobile-redeemable PINs
to one or more point of sale locations in a retail network.
19. In the system claimed in claim 18, the controller is further
configured to determine which of the mobile-redeemable PINs
designated to the one or more point of sale locations in the retail
network have been issued from the one or more batches of
mobile-redeemable PINs to a group of reward-eligible customers
comprising the customer.
20. In the system claimed in claim 19, the controller is further
configured to provide supplemental unique mobile-redeemable PINs to
replenish the mobile-redeemable PINs issued from the one or more
batches of mobile-redeemable PINs to the group of reward-eligible
customers.
21. In the system claimed in claim 16, the controller is further
configured to assign a consumer reward to a personal mobile
communication device associated with the customer upon receipt of
the mobile-redeemable PIN assigned to the customer via a text
message originating from the personal mobile communication
device.
22. In the system claimed in claim 16, the controller is further
configured to assign a consumer reward to a personal mobile
communication device associated with the customer upon receipt of
an online computer-based electronic communication initiated on
behalf of the customer.
23. In the system claimed in claim 17, wherein the
mobile-redeemable incentive is a mobile coupon, and the controller
is programmed to receive metadata associated with the mobile coupon
for storage in the memory device, for tracking a future redemption
of the mobile-redeemable PIN, and for associating the future
redemption with the customer.
24. In the system claimed in claim 23, the controller is further
programmed to forward the metadata to a mobile service provider,
via the communication element, to enable the mobile service
provider to track the future redemption of the mobile-redeemable
PIN and associate the future redemption with the customer.
25. A software product for operating the system as claimed in claim
16 according to a method of associating a unique mobile-redeemable
PIN with a customer, in which the PIN has not been published on a
product or product packaging, comprising: examining a unique code
associated with the product, following a transaction within the
group of transactions defined by: (i) a sale of the product to the
customer, and (ii) a submission by the customer of a
mobile-redeemable incentive associated with the product;
determining whether the product is eligible for a consumer reward
by comparing the unique code with a database comprising eligible
unique codes, wherein each eligible unique code corresponds to a
promotional product; and if the product is one of the promotional
products, verifying that the product is eligible for the consumer
reward, associating the PIN with information associated with the
transaction, and associating the PIN with a mobile communication
device associated with the customer.
26. The method of claim 1 comprising: storing data comprising the
information associated with the transaction, the PIN, and
information identifying the mobile communication device, for
tracking redemptions of mobile-redeemable PINs and for associating
a redemption behavior with the customer.
27. The method of claim 1 comprising: compiling information for
tracking redemption data comprising: information associated with
the transaction, the PIN, information identifying the mobile
communication device and a redemption behavior associated with the
customer; and like information associated with other PIN redemption
transactions initiated by other customers, and redemption behaviors
associated with the other customers.
28. The method of claim 1 comprising: storing information about the
customer comprising: the PIN, information identifying the mobile
communication device, and a redemption behavior associated with the
customer; and managing ongoing communications with the customer in
association with a customer relationship management program.
29. The method of claim 26 comprising: compiling information for
tracking redemption data comprising: information associated with
the transaction, the PIN, information identifying the mobile
communication device and a redemption behavior associated with the
customer; and like information associated with other PIN redemption
transactions initiated by other customers, and redemption behaviors
associated with the other customers.
30. The method of claim 26 comprising: compiling information for
tracking redemption data comprising: storing information about the
customer comprising: the PIN, information identifying the mobile
communication device, and a redemption behavior associated with the
customer; and managing ongoing communications with the customer in
association with a customer relationship management program.
31. The method of claim 27 comprising: storing information about
the customer comprising: the PIN, information identifying the
mobile communication device, and a redemption behavior associated
with the customer; and managing ongoing communications with the
customer in association with a customer relationship management
program.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to marketing and promotional
activities of branded products, including branded packaged
services, in association with mobile communications devices such as
mobile phones or cell phones, smartphones, wireless handheld
devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Conventional marketing and promotional programs utilize
printed coupons, radio and television advertising, advertising in
print and electronic media and the like. Historically, retailers
and manufacturers of brand products have struggled to improve the
efficacy of their traditional efforts at successfully encouraging
consumers to recognize and purchase their selected brand products.
Traditional advertising techniques, such as for example, printed
ads and mailed coupons have demonstrated very limited success in
catching the attention of prospective customers. In addition, those
traditional techniques have been relatively costly, with very small
response rates, thus limiting the opportunities of start up
companies to promote their promising, newly developed products, and
imposing significant cost burdens on long established businesses
with many different brand products. In addition, printed coupons
and similar forms of traditional promotions do not allow for any
ongoing relationship with the consumer.
[0003] With the recent expansion of the internet, brand suppliers
have attempted to promote and sell brand products through various
techniques directed at the growing number of consumers who have
personal computers or other access to the internet. These efforts
have also had limited success even though advertising materials may
be distributed at relatively low cost to millions of potential
customers, provided the advertisers have access to up to date email
addresses for their intended target audiences. The difficulty in
obtaining reliable, up to date email addresses and other desirable
information related to their target audiences has led to the
practice of spamming. That approach has created negative consumer
responses, the development of anti-spam software filters, legal
restrictions against spamming in some jurisdictions, and other
impediments to these mass marketing efforts.
[0004] Very recently, the numbers of personal mobile communications
devices such as telephones, smartphones, and the like, have grown
throughout the world and continue to expand at surprising rates. It
has also been observed that many young adults, professionals and
other individuals prefer to use mobile phones for personal and work
related communications. In many instances, members of this group
will not install conventional land-line based phones in their
homes. Advertisers and brand suppliers have exhibited a strong
desire to target these potential consumers by using conventional
advertising techniques, including print media, radio, television
and internet based ads, and the like, with limited success and many
of the drawbacks associated with traditional promotional
programs.
[0005] Such attempts have also suffered from losses associated with
dishonest redemptions by consumers, retail employees and others who
did not qualify for the intended incentives or rewards budgeted for
those promotions.
[0006] Consequently, there is a need for a promotional and
marketing program to attract a wide range of potential customers
for brand products, in an effective manner. Similarly, there is a
need for a method of promoting products which allows brand sources
to encourage redemption of promotional incentives, identify
individual target customers, track the promotional efforts and
compile the results of such efforts, and track the redemption
behaviors of the target audiences. There is also a need for a
simplified process of redeeming promotional incentives and issuing
consumer rewards associated with selected brands. There is also a
particular need for such programs to be secure, with features to
inhibit dishonest use and fraudulent redemptions of promotional
incentives such as coupons.
[0007] Various aspects of the present invention are desirable
solutions for one or more of the disadvantages associated with
traditional promotional programs. The advantages and potential
benefits of the present invention will become apparent to those
skilled in the art, upon a review of the present specification. The
following terms will be helpful in understanding the various
aspects of the present invention.
[0008] A brand supplier includes a corporate entity that produces
and or markets brand products.
[0009] A product is a packaged item or packaged service that is
typically sold at a retail location or through other channels. An
unique product may be associated with an unique product identifier,
for example, an unique code.
[0010] In a typical retail sales transaction, a point of sale
cashier enters information into a terminal at the point of sale
concerning the items selected for purchase, including the unique
codes corresponding to the items included in the transaction. The
nature and type of unique codes available for use in commercial
transactions is evolving. Various aspects of the present invention
may be adapted for use in association with existing and evolving
codes. It will be understood that certain unique codes are intended
to distinguish product categories from other product categories
(for example, to distinguish "peaches" from "apples"), rather than
to distinguish between specific brands of products (for example,
Brand X pants and Brand Y pants). In certain instances, retailers
may wish to promote the sale of a general product category rather
than a particular brand of product from competitive brands of
similar products. Various aspects of the invention may be adapted
to address these different circumstances.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] With reference to the present invention, a mobile service
provider (MSP) is the application layer that typically hosts the
business logic to assign, track and redeem PINs, ballots, loyalty
points and coupons. Some of this business logic may be hosted
remotely as an ASP (application service provider). In other
instances, a POS PIN client (sometimes also called a POS middleware
client) will locally host some of the mobile service provider's
business logic. (The Term Pos Means a Point of Sale.)
[0012] A retail network is an aggregate or group of retailers
operating within a network. When the invention is in use, a retail
network may install the POS PIN client's locally hosted business
logic.
[0013] PINs (Personal Identification Numbers) may be updated via
batch processing between the local POS PIN client and the remote
mobile service provider. As most POS applications do not allow for
continuous call-outs for a PIN, batch or block processing allows a
scheduled update of a quantity of PINs that are hosted locally.
Batch PINs may be maintained by a centralized web service at retail
which interfaces with the individual POS terminals.
[0014] An SMS gateway is placed between two SMSCs, acting as a
relay between the two SMSCs. It is able to translate one SMSC
(short message service center) protocol to another, and can be used
by two different wireless carriers to interconnect their respective
SMSCs.
[0015] A POS basket is the total sum of the products purchased (in
a single sale transaction) at the retail POS.
[0016] A global PIN or super PIN may be used when multiple PINs
"personal identification numbers" are issued in a single sales
transaction. One global PIN may be encoded with the information
necessary to identify all of the PINs associated with that
transaction.
[0017] A generic coupon is the brand supplier's promotional offer
that is placed in print, online or other promotions for a discount
or reward at participating retail POS locations.
[0018] A mobile coupon is the information derived from a generic
coupon (or other incentive) plus the added metadata necessary to
make the coupon (incentive) unique and trackable to the host mobile
consumer.
[0019] A mobile-redeemable incentive (for example, a mobile coupon,
one or more mobile loyalty points, or a mobile sweepstake ballot)
may be redeemed by directly using a mobile communication device as
described further below. However, the mobile-redeemable incentive
may also be redeemed in other ways, for example, by accessing a
website via the internet and submitting information relating to the
incentive, to facilitate an association of a mobile-redeemable PIN
with the customer's mobile device.
[0020] Similarly, a mobile-redeemable PIN may be redeemed by using
the customer's mobile device, or in another manner that will
associate the PIN with the customer's mobile device.
[0021] The invention is associated with promotional and marketing
activities associated with mobile communications devices to enable
or enhance the effectiveness of promoting or marketing branded
products. In one aspect, the invention is directed to tracking
consumer redemptions of promotional rewards. In another aspect, the
invention may provide a cost effective medium to distribute
promotional rewards via electronic communications devices. The
invention may also provide a secure method or system associated
with marketing and promotions directed to selected customers within
a larger group of people using mobile communications devices. The
invention may also provide a secure way to distribute rewards at
POS associated with the purchase of specific brand merchandise, and
specifically by printing PINs on consumer receipts that may be
redeemed by various means, including but not limited to via mobile
communication devices.
[0022] The present invention may be used to promote the sale of
branded products (which also include branded packaged services)
through in-store acquisition of branded products or out-of store
promotions designed to enhance retention of mobile rewards
including one or more the following rewards: mobile sweepstake
ballots (also called, mobile contest ballots), mobile loyalty
points, and mobile coupons. As an example of an acquisition
solution, PINs may be issued to enable consumers to receive
consumer rewards following the acquisition of one or more branded
products. In this acquisition example, the invention includes a
method of assigning one unique personal identification number (PIN)
for each promotional product sold to a consumer or one global PIN
(for example, a "super" PIN) for multiple promotional products sold
at the retail Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal for subsequent
redemption by the consumer via their personal mobile communications
device. If any promotional products are identified on the final
transaction basket a PIN is dynamically printed on the transaction
receipt (paper) and the PIN may be redeemed via the consumer's
mobile device (phone) for a reward tracked to their phone number.
The invention also includes a system for operation in accordance
with this method, and a software product for programming a system
for such operation in accordance with this method.
[0023] In another example of this invention, involving a retention
solution, PINs may be issued as a process of rewarding consumers
via mobile phones or other communications devices based on mobile
sweepstake ballots, mobile loyalty points or mobile coupons. In
some promotional activities, the retention program may involve
immediately issuing mobile coupons to the consumer's mobile device,
for example a mobile phone, to initiate the program with the
consumer. In some instances, the mobile coupon may be scanned by
the POS as a generic promotional code but when the mobile coupon is
scanned, the scanned information will have embedded metadata to
allow the mobile service provider, retailer, the brand supplier or
others to track the individual consumer's redemption behavior
associated with that coupon, and other historical redemption
behavior, all of which information may be stored in a database, for
use by the MSP, or by the retailer or brand supplier, as the case
may be. In other instances, mobile coupons may be issued to the
consumer's phone as the final reward when a certain number of
loyalty points are collected by the consumer and are traced to the
consumer's device, or a winning sweepstake ballot is drawn and
awarded to the consumer's device. In this example, the invention
also includes a software product and a system embodying the present
method.
[0024] In another example, the invention is a method of assigning a
mobile-redeemable PIN to a customer, comprising the following
steps. An unique code associated with a product is examined
following either the sale of the product to the customer, or
following the submission by the customer of a mobile-redeemable
incentive associated with the product. In the first instance within
this example, the unique code (for example, a Stock-keeping unit
(SKU); a Price Look-Up code (PLU); an Universal Product Code (UPC);
an European Article Number (EAN); a Global Trade Item Number
(GTIN); or an Australian Product Number (APN)), may be detected by
scanning the product purchased at the POS and causing a unique PIN
to be printed on the consumer's receipt. (The unique PIN may be
brought to the attention of the customer in some other manner,
other than by printing the PIN on the receipt.) In the second
instance, the unique code associated with the product may be
depicted on a printed coupon associated with the product which is
submitted at the POS, or the unique code may be derived by scanning
electronic information stored in the mobile device which is
associated with an electronic coupon previously delivered to the
mobile device. The incentive may be a mobile coupon, one or more
mobile loyalty points, and a mobile sweepstake ballot. For example,
the customer may submit the mobile redeemable incentive at a POS
which participates in a promotional program. A determination is
made whether the product is eligible for a consumer reward by
comparing the unique code with a database comprising eligible
unique codes. Preferably, each eligible unique code corresponds to
a promotional product. If it is determined that the product is one
of the promotional products, the mobile-redeemable PIN is issued
and is available for assignment to the personal mobile
communications device associated with the customer. After the PIN
is issued, the customer will be notified, for example, by way of a
printed receipt, that the customer is eligible for the consumer
reward by redeeming the mobile-redeemable PIN. The printed receipt
will encourage the customer to communicate the PIN to a designated
Mobile Service Provider (MSP). Upon receipt by the MSP of an
initial communication from the customer, the PIN will be associated
with the customer's mobile device.
[0025] In a preferred aspect of the invention, a text message is
sent by a Mobile Service Provider (MSP) to the customer's mobile
device to notify the customer of his/her eligibility for a consumer
reward. The customer may be encouraged to redeem the PIN by
following certain prescribed rules. The text message from the MSP
may also include information encouraging the customer to visit a
website containing more information about the promotional or
marketing program.
[0026] In some instances the PIN may be redeemed on behalf of the
customer by sending a text message from the mobile device to the
MSP in accordance with instructions printed on a customer receipt,
following the purchase of the promotional product. In other
instances, the PIN may be redeemed via the internet by sending an
email, or accessing an internet website associated with the MSP, on
behalf of the customer, and by entering information requested at
the website to redeem the PIN assigned to the customer's mobile
device.
[0027] In some aspects of the invention, batches of
mobile-redeemable PINs may be assigned in batches to one or more
POS locations operating within a retail network. This may be a
particularly advantageous approach in POS sites which are not
configured to maintain real-time communications with a remotely
based system (for example, operated by a MSP and) set up to assign
secure unique PINs for the promotion or marketing program. In this
instance, the PINs assigned by the MSP in batches to a POS may be
stored at sales terminals or other memory storage devices in
network communication with the POS terminals. Each POS location may
communicate with the MSP to determine the number of PINs which have
been assigned to customers, and the POS location may receive
additional PINs on a periodic basis to replenish the assigned
PINs.
[0028] It will also be readily understood that customers may
purchase in a single transaction multiple product units, including
some like products and some unlike products. Several of those
product units may be designated as promotional products, eligible
for assignment of PINs. For convenience, it is preferable that each
of the promotional product units purchased within a single
transaction will be assigned a corresponding PIN and that
information will be stored in a database for use by the MSP.
Instead of notifying the customer that he/she has received a
plurality of individual PINs, and put the customer to the task of
separately submitting each PIN, the customer will be issued with a
global PIN (also called a super PIN) so that the customer need only
redeem one PIN to qualify for the multiple rewards associated with
that multi-unit purchase.
[0029] In another embodiment, the invention is a method of
assigning a mobile-redeemable PIN to a customer following the sale
of a product. The method comprises the step of determining whether
the product is eligible for a consumer reward by comparing an
unique code assigned to the product with a database comprising
eligible unique codes. Each eligible unique code corresponds to a
promotional product. If the product is one of the promotional
products, the mobile-redeemable PIN associated with the product
sale is issued for assignment to the customer's personal mobile
communications device, such that the PIN is available for use in
notifying the customer that the customer is eligible for the
consumer reward and that the customer may redeem the
mobile-redeemable PIN by sending a text message including the PIN
from the mobile device to a designated MSP associated with a
designated short code.
[0030] In another embodiment, the invention is a method of
assigning a mobile-redeemable PIN to a customer after the customer
has submitted a valid coupon associated with a promotional product.
The customer usually submits the coupon at a participating POS. The
method includes the step of determining whether the coupon bears a
valid unique code associated with the promotional product. If the
coupon bears a valid unique code, the mobile-redeemable PIN will be
associated with the customer's mobile device. The customer is
notified of the PIN and that the PIN is available for redemption by
sending a text message from the customer's mobile device to a
designated MSP. In this instance, the text message will include the
issued PIN. After the MSP receives the initial text message from
the customer, including the PIN, the MSP associates the PIN with
the customer's mobile device.
[0031] However, in a preferred embodiment, the customer may receive
a mobile coupon via the customer's mobile communication device. The
mobile coupon may have embedded metadata including information
which associates a PIN with the customer's mobile device. (In some
instances, the PIN may include the customer's telephone number
associated with that mobile device, or another unique code which
may be used to identify the customer's telephone number.) In this
example, the customer's mobile device may be scanned at a POS
terminal to access the embedded metadata, to verify that the mobile
coupon is associated with an ongoing promotion and that the mobile
coupon is eligible for redemption. In some instances, the metadata,
including the mobile-redeemable PIN, might not be disclosed to the
customer, even though the embedded PIN may be used to verify that
the customer is eligible for a consumer reward.
[0032] In another embodiment, the invention is a system for
assigning a mobile-redeemable PIN to a customer following the sale
of a product. In this example, the system comprises a controller.
The controller is programmed to determine whether the product is
eligible for a consumer reward by comparing an unique code assigned
to the product with a database comprising eligible unique codes.
Each eligible unique code corresponds to a promotional product and
when a promotional item with an eligible unique code is purchased,
a PIN is issued, and preferably printed on the receipt. When the
PIN is redeemed via the mobile device, the controller identifies
the telephone number of the customer upon receipt of a submission
on behalf of the customer. The controller assigns the
mobile-redeemable PIN associated with the product sale to the
telephone number of the customer, if the product is one of the
promotional products. The system comprises a memory element for
storing the mobile consumer's phone number and potentially other
relevant information about the consumer that may be collected, in a
database, and a communication element capable of managing ongoing
communication with the mobile consumer (and others) if the consumer
has opted into such ongoing communication. The communication
element communicates information associated with the sale of the
promotional product, comprising: the telephone number of the
customer and the mobile redeemable PIN assigned to the customer.
Typically, the communication element communicates certain aspects
of that information between the system and the POS, and other
aspects of the information between the system and the customer.
[0033] In another embodiment, the system assigns a
mobile-redeemable PIN to a customer after examining an unique code
associated with a product, following a submission on behalf of the
customer of a mobile-redeemable incentive associated with the
product. The system comprises a controller. The controller is
programmed to determine whether the product is eligible for a
consumer reward by comparing the unique code assigned to the
product with a database comprising eligible unique codes. Each
eligible unique code corresponds to a promotional product. In a
preferred embodiment, the controller is configured to identify the
customer's telephone number from metadata embedded in the
mobile-redeemable incentive (for example, a mobile coupon) after
the incentive has been scanned at the POS. In other instances, the
controller may be configured to identify the telephone number of
the customer upon receipt of a second submission of information on
behalf of the customer comprising the PIN, and the controller will
associate the mobile-redeemable PIN to the telephone number of the
customer. The system also comprises a memory element for storing
the database and a communication element. The communication element
communicates information associated with the customer. The
communicated information comprises the telephone number of the
customer and the mobile-redeemable PIN assigned to the
customer.
[0034] In another aspect, the invention is a software product for
programming a system, for operation in accordance with one or more
methods of the present invention.
[0035] The foregoing summary addresses some examples of the
invention. Other variations, modifications and aspects of the
invention will become apparent to those who are skilled in the
relevant art upon a review of the entirety of the present
specification.
[0036] Certain specific embodiments of the present invention are
described with reference to the following drawings which are
appended to the present specification. The drawings are briefly
described below.
DRAWINGS
[0037] Several preferred embodiments of the invention will be
described in greater detail having regard to the following drawings
in which,
[0038] FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic representation of a method
of the present invention in which a PIN is issued in connection
with a retail sale transaction involving a promotional product;
[0039] FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic representation of another
method of the present invention in which a global PIN is issued in
connection with a retail transaction involving more than one
promotional product and a corresponding number of PINs; and
[0040] FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic representation of another
aspect of the invention in which a mobile coupon is issued for
redemption at a POS.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0041] Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in
detail having regard to the appended drawings. However, it will be
understood that these examples illustrate certain embodiments of
the invention and that the illustrated examples are not to be
interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. Persons skilled
in the art will understand that the invention may be implemented
for use in other forms, systems and methods and that many other
variations, modifications and embodiments fall within the scope of
the invention.
[0042] The following detailed description will illustrate a method
of issuing PINs in association with an acquisition based
transaction and a method of issuing PINs in association with a
retention based transaction.
Examples of Acquisition Based PINs
[0043] By way of background, a brand supplier will typically
identify a product for a promotion. The Mobile Service Provider
will assign a defined range of unique PINs for this promotional
product by associating the range of unique PINs with the unique
code (product item identifier) for this promotional product.
[0044] Having regard to the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the POS
PIN client is installed on a retailer's POS software or as an
external device attached to the retailer's POS terminal.
[0045] The POS PIN client processes the PINs in batches from a
mobile service provider on a scheduled basis to the retail network.
These PINs are issued to the product item identifier corresponding
to active promotions by a brand supplier. These PINs are cached at
the POS terminal. (In another example, a retail network may launch
its own promotional efforts associated with one or more promotional
products.)
[0046] The consumer selects product(s) at the retailer. The unique
product item identifiers for all selected products are
electronically scanned at the POS register/terminal. Before the
final transaction is closed, the POS basket is run through the POS
PIN client. If one product item identifier in the POS basket
corresponds with an active promotional product campaign on the
mobile service provider's associated retail network, an unique PIN
is assigned to that transaction and the unique PIN is printed on
the customer's receipt (paper) with a predefined product message
and instructions. The message printed on the receipt may take the
following form: "To enter the ProductX WIN BIG draw, text message
8XER123 to 101010 now!"
[0047] The customer has the option to follow the instructions and
send an SMS text message containing his/her unique PIN to the
designated short code. The PIN is routed over the SMS gateway to a
mobile service provider which validates the PIN and immediately
sends a mobile message (MMS or SMS with optional WAP link)
containing a sweepstake ballot, loyalty point or coupon to the
consumer's phone.
[0048] If multiple product item identifiers in the POS basket
correspond to active promotional product campaigns on the mobile
service provider's associated retail network, a global PIN (super
PIN) is assigned to the multiple promotional product transaction
and the unique global PIN is printed on the customer's receipt
(paper) with a predefined product message and instructions. The
global PIN message printed on the receipt may take the following
form: "Thanks for buying ProductX, ProductY and ProductZ. Text
message 1W12357U to 101010 now!"
[0049] The customer has the option to follow the instructions and
send an SMS text message containing his/her unique global PIN to
the designated short code. The global PIN is routed over the SMS
gateway to a mobile service provider which decodes the global PIN
identifying the multiple promotional products from that single
retail transaction and immediately sends multiple mobile messages
(MMS or SMS with optional WAP links) containing a sweepstake
ballot, loyalty points or coupon(s) to the consumer's phone.
[0050] Preferably, all PIN tracking is handled remotely from the
POS by a mobile service provider. Otherwise, the POS client would
need to track information concerning the issuance and redemption of
the PIN, including when and where PIN submitted. For example, such
tracking by the POS client could be problematic if the PIN is
issued at an unrelated retail operation or for reasons including
the following.
[0051] Many POS systems do not provide linking information to match
a negative transaction with the original transaction. Therefore on
returns and post voids, the POS may not be able to invalidate the
original PINs issued for these negative transactions and, as an
undesirable consequence, the PINs would remain valid and acceptable
for redemption.
[0052] For a reprint of a receipt, the POS would need to reprint
the PIN again on the duplicate receipt. However, the mobile service
provider will only accept a valid PIN once and thereby avoid
multiple redemptions of the PIN corresponding to the original
transaction.
[0053] If PINs remain unissued at the end of a given promotion, the
PINs are cancelled by the remote mobile service provider and are
never redeemed. A duplicate PIN will not be accepted by the mobile
service provider.
[0054] In a preferred embodiment, each PIN is encoded using upper
case characters and digits. This gives 36 different possible
characters per space. From this character set the following
characters are preferably removed to avoid the possibility that
they would be mistaken by the consumer for another digit or
character:
O0 1I G6 8B
[0055] This adaptation yields a usable character set of 28
characters per space. If the unique portion of the PIN contained 8
characters this example would have an available number of 28.sup.8
PINs (more than 377 billion different PINs).
[0056] In a preferred example, another character would be added to
act as a check digit to prevent someone from guessing and
attempting to improperly use a valid PIN.
[0057] In a preferred embodiment, where global PINs are assigned,
and with reference to FIG. 2, each global PIN starts with a unique
prefix for the customer. After the prefix, a variable number of
characters are appended representing the products that were
purchased.
[0058] An example of a transaction corresponding to the issuance of
a global PIN, is as follows:
[0059] Consider that the transaction involves three promotional
products: [0060] ProductX=1 [0061] ProductY=2 [0062] ProductZ=4
[0063] If all values are assigned as follows: A=0, B=1, C=2, D=3,
E=4, F=5, G=6, H=7, all possible combinations of product purchases
may be encoded.
[0064] Consider the following examples: [0065] 1. Customer X buys a
ProductZ (which is given a value of 4 above). E=4 so append E to
the unique prefix. [0066] 2. Customer Y buys a ProductX(1) and a
ProductY(2). Add 1+2=3=>`D`. Append D to the unique prefix.
[0067] 3. Customer Z buys a ProductY(2) and a ProductZ(4). Add
2+4=6=>`G`. Append G to the unique prefix.
[0068] In example "3." above, if the unique prefix for the customer
was `7HYUGH`, the global PIN (super PIN) printed on the receipt
would be `7HYUGHG`
[0069] Expanding this example to the number of valid characters we
could embed in the PIN (A-Z, 0-9) we will be able to encode up to 5
different products in each character after the unique prefix. For
example, to encode 15 different products we would use 3
characters.
[0070] Preferably, the global PIN would also have a check digit (as
a security measure) to ensure that dishonest persons could not
subtly alter their global PIN codes to receive offers or rewards
for products that they did not purchase.
Example of a Retention Based Promotion
[0071] With reference to FIG. 3, a preferred embodiment of a
retention based promotion is illustrated. When PINs are redeemed
via the consumer's mobile device, rewards are provisioned and
tracked to the customer's mobile phone. Mobile coupons may be sent
to the phone immediately or the mobile coupons may be used as the
final reward when a certain number of loyalty points are collected,
or a winning ballot is drawn in a promotional contest. In this
example, generic coupons and mobile-redeemable coupons (like PINs)
are redeemed at the retail POS.
[0072] In this example, a brand supplier identifies a coupon offer
for a promotional product. This offer corresponds to a generic
number that can be used in print media, online media and, in the
below case, on mobile media. Upon visiting the POS, this generic
coupon number is appended by metadata, by the mobile service
provider, to track the individual consumer's redemption
behaviour.
[0073] For example, coupon number A12345 is sent to the following
three consumers: [0074] Consumer A with phone # 310 406 1190 is
sent A12345X12 [0075] Consumer B with phone # 212 456 1256 is sent
A12345Y18 [0076] Consumer C with phone # 647 299 1234 is sent
A123451WE
[0077] In each case the mobile service provider will track the
coupon to the corresponding consumer's phone number. [0078]
Consumer C's phone number=647 299 1234 [0079] Promo offer=A12345
[0080] Metadata tied back to the phone number=1WE
[0081] Each consumer may redeem his/her mobile coupon in the retail
network. The coupons are sent to the corresponding consumer's phone
as a SMS WAP push message. In this example, consumer C receives a
message with A123451 WE embedded as a scannable code. (The embedded
unique code may not be accessible or readable by the customer.
However, the unique code may be used to confirm that the mobile
coupon may be redeemed by the customer.)
[0082] In the preferred example, the phones are electronically
scanned by an optical scanner at the POS register/terminal. The POS
reads the generic coupon offer (A12345) and the POS stores the
metadata (1WE).
[0083] When the POS batch reports all codes scanned within the
reporting period, along with the associated metadata, the mobile
service provider may track which phone number(s) redeemed the
promotional offer.
[0084] This information is tracked to the specific mobile phone
number and may be used to run affinity/loyalty programs for the
brand supplier. This coupon redemption information coupled with the
PIN redemption information allows the brand supplier to run a
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) program targeted to the
consumer's handset.
[0085] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many
other types and designs of systems, programs and methods may be
used.
[0086] The embodiments described in this application are merely
illustrative and are not intended to be limited to the specific
features or elements as described herein. Further and other
modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in
the art, thus making it possible to practice other embodiments, all
of which are within the scope and spirit of the present invention
as set out in the appended claims.
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